This week we're tackling the clutter — physical, electronic and mental — that weighs us down at work. So without further ado, let the desk transformation begin...

Purge with a purpose. When deciding what to get rid of, Japanese cleaning guru Marie Kondo recommends asking yourself...'Does this spark joy?' If the answer is no, get rid of it. Tell it 'thanks' on the way out. #goodkarma

But be smart about it. Work-related items require more consideration. So before you pitch that client file that doesn't make you happy, also ask...'Is this something I need for work?' If no, say 'thanks' and send it on its way. If yes...

Go green if you can. Scan it, e-file it, back it up electronically. Need more guidance on client file (and information) retention requirements? Refer to ISBA Professional Conduct Advisory Opinion No.17-02.

Repeat for every item on your desk. If you've got time, also go through your desk drawers and shelves until only the items that spark joy or are required for work remain.

We've partnered with ISBA Mutual Insurance Company to bring back pro photographer Kari Bedford for 3 days of free business portrait sittings for 242 lucky members.

Enter to win a free sitting by completing the online form by midnight tonight.

Only 1 entry per member will be accepted.

• Our Springfield session will run Friday, May 12 from 10AM-5PM at the newly renovated ISBA Springfield Office.
• Our downtown Chicago session will run on Wednesday, May 17 from 10AM-5PM and Thursday, May 18 from 8AM-2PM at the ISBA Mutual office.

Portrait sittings are each 5 minutes in length; winners will be booked in half-hour intervals.

22 Days to a Decluttered Office + Mind and a Polished Professional Presence.

Ready to have some fun, do a little spring cleaning, and find your office 'A' game?

Sign up to take the Desk4Success Challenge and enter the Grand Prize drawing.

You'll receive a daily challenge in your Inbox from May 1-31 (normally delivered @6AM weekdays, excluding Memorial Day). Challenges cover decluttering your office and mind, polishing your professional presence, timesaving tech tips, and office wellness.

Participate in our social challenges for a chance to win additional prizes. Follow us on Instagram (@isbalawyers) to play.

Sign up for the Desk4Success Challenge and enter our grand prize drawing for 2 tickets to 'Hamilton: An American Musical' in Chicago or a $500 Visa Gift Card.

Only 1 entry per member will be accepted.

President-elect Russell Hartigan and Director of Legislative Affairs Jim Covington represented the ISBA at ABA Day in Washington, D.C. on April 25-27. ABA Day is a three-day conference that brings together leaders of the ABA and state and local bars from across the country to meet with members of Congress and advocate on behalf of lawyers. Of special interest this year was funding for legal services.

Registration is now open for the 141st ISBA Annual Meeting. Join us June 15-17 at the Abbey Resort in Fontana, Wisconsin, to celebrate our accomplishments over the past bar year and prepare for the year ahead of us. The Annual Meeting is a great place build lasting relationships, create positive changes in the profession, earn CLE hours, and be a part of our community. Advanced registration must be received by Friday, June 9. 

Register here

Hotel and registration information

Annual Meeting schedule of events

Annual Meeting CLE

Perfect your trial practice skills with this full-day seminar that not only walks you through each step of the trial process, but also shows you how technology can help you flawlessly deliver your case to the courtroom. Trial attorneys with intermediate practice experience who attend this seminar in Chicago or via live webcast on May 12, 2017 will learn: how to get rid of biased jurors during voir dire; the importance of a well-told opening statement; how to prepare your next witness for direct examination; how to question lay and expert witnesses during cross examination; which high-tech tools can help you present your next big case; the value of demonstrative exhibits and technology to engage your jury; how to prepare a powerful and persuasive closing argument; what attorneys have done right (and wrong) in trial as experienced by one retired judge; and the common incidents that lead to malpractice.

The program is presented by the ISBA Civil Practice and Procedure Section and qualifies for 7.0 hours MCLE credit, including 7.0 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit (subject to approval).

Click here for more information and to register.

J. Timothy Eaton, partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, discusses when and whether you should appeal.

Twenty years ago, law firm document management revolved around meticulously organized manila files, metal drawers, and bankers boxes, with instructions not to fold, spindle, or mutilate them as they were being physically transported to another attorney or a courtroom.

While those physical manifestations still remain to varying degrees in law offices, document management today is more likely to focus on electronic files that need to be created and managed on a server or in the cloud, with instructions to ensure they're adequately encrypted before being electronically transported to one of the aforementioned destinations.

Paul Unger, a partner with Affinity Consulting Group who works with attorneys and law firms, recommends that legal offices use a top-shelf, sophisticated electronic document management system to handle the creation and storage of most types of documents.

"If we're talking about transactional attorneys - or even if it's litigation, but it's your own work product, your own correspondence and responses - anything we would draft ourselves, pleadings, motions, I would recommend in today's age that a firm have a document management system," he says. Unger recommends four primary choices: Worldox, NetDocuments, iManage (formerly Interwoven Worksite), and Open Text (formerly Hummingbird). Find out more in the May IBJ.

Asked and Answered

By John W. Olmstead, MBA, Ph.D, CMC

Q.  I am a partner in a 14-attorney business litigation law firm in New Orleans. There are five partners in the firm. We are a first-generation firm and all five partners are the original founders. Each partner has equal ownership interests and is compensated based upon ownership points. While this approach to compensation worked for many years, this system is no longer working for us. Performance used to be pretty close but this is no longer the case. Your suggestions are welcomed.

A. This is a common problem that new law firms eventually face. Here are a few thoughts: